Space discharge relay



I M. POTTS 2,306,404 SPACE DISCHARGE RELAY Filed Feb. 26, 1940 GASFILLED INVENTOR. LOUIS M. POTTS ATT \NEY.

Patented Dec. 29, 1942 SPACE DISCHARGE RELAY Louis M. Potts, Evanston,11L, assignor to Tele- -type Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporationof Delaware Application February 26, 1940, Serial No. 320,846 19 Claims.(01. ire-1o) This invention pertains to telegraph systems andparticularly to such systems in which space discharge devices areembodied as parts thereof with functions of transmitters, receivers orrelays.

The invention further pertains particularly to systems in which spacedischarge devices respond to a comparatively short controlling impulseof signaling current and then flmction to deliver lengthened impulses tooperate the apparatu in a controlled circuit of a telegraph system.

An object of the invention is to provide space discharge apparatus intelegraph systems where transmission is effected rapidly by electricalimnetic relay and upon the operation of one of such armatures the platecircuit of the controlling trigger tube is terminated by contactscontrolled by the armature. v

' Fig. 2 illustrates a mechanical system in which trigger tubes areresponsive to short received signal impulses and inwhich electromagnetsof trigpulses, each of short duration, to effect a fully reliableoperation in the signal responsive mechanical elements of the apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to limit the period during whichthe space discharge devices operate to the time necessary to operate theap paratus in a controlled circuit.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a system of signalrepeating devices in which one device is used to receive a signal andanother device is used to retransmit the signal, the retransmittingdevice being designed to give a retransmitted signal of full time valuein response to a received signal impulse of shorter time value.

In one form of th invention, each received signal i continued in therepeating circuit or in the work circuit until a signal of a contrastingcharacteristic is received.

In another form of the invention, the received signal impulse isrepeated into a work circuit by a trigger member and is maintained by aresidual condition while the unit of work is being effected, amechanical operating member of the receiving unit then effectingresetting of the trigger member of the receiving device to signalcurrent impulse.

A more complete understanding of the inventerminat the work tion may behad from th following description I ger nature are operated in turn bythe trigger tubes toterminate the currents in the plate circults of thetrigger tubes. In this modified exemplification, the work to be done isto effect the operation of a relay armature. Upon the operation of suchan armature the plate circuit of the trigger tube is opened andconcomitantly a circuit is closed to effect a further unit of work.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 there is disclosed a telegraphsystem, preferably a syn.- chronous multiplex system, comprising atransmission timing contact 2, a synchronous transmitting distributorIt, a pair of space discharge devices 5 and i controlled by thedistributor and an apparatus 9 in turn controlled by said spacedischarge devices. A constantly rotating cam I carried on a shaft 2|,operates contact 2 periodically to complete a transmission circuit, tobe presently defined, from transmitting distributor it to either of thegas filled tubes I or 8. Neutral relay I and 8 through their armaturescondition a circuit to control apparatus 9 in response to signalcombinations transmitted from distributor It. In this figure, 9 isillustrated as a polar relay controlling retransmission into a conductorI 0, but it may well form part of any signal controlled apparatus. v

The transmitting distributor It includes ten segments, A-l to A- forchannel A and B-l to 3-5 for channel B. Associated with segments 15-! toB-5 is a tape controlled permutation transmitter I 9 which comprisestransmitting members 3 and l engageable by a plurality of tongues 20 toplace marking or spacing condition on these segments in response to aperforated tape controlling transmission from transmitter is. Likewise atape controlled transmitter 20 conditions segments A-l to A4 in responseto signal combinations in a perforated tape. A double brush II iscarried by shaft ll of transmitting distributor l8 and bridges ring 26and the segments of the distributor successively to transmit code signalcombinations. Cam I is rotated'by shaft 2| through a 10 to 1 gearingfrom shaft l1 and operates itsfollower 22 to close contact 2 for a shortperiod in each revolution of cam I to complete a transmission circuit asfollows: ground, battery 23, resistor 24, contact'2, ring 2!,

2 i 2,soc,4os

brushes II, the distributor segment with which brushII has its instantengagement, ton ue II in transmitter II or II connected to theparticular distributor segment, line conductor 21 and II depending onthe positionment oi the particular tonguslIandgridoitubeiorI.

Plate circuit II of tube I includes battery II, of relay I, contacts II,II of relay I, plate II, cathode II, conductor II and potentiometer IItobattery II. A holding circuit ior relay I when operated, and whenrelay I is de-energized, 7

includes battery II, winding of relay I, contact II and tongue II, ofrelay I, tongue II; and contact II oi relay I and to ground.

. Plats circuit II of tube I includes battery II, resistor II, windingof relay I, plate II, cathode II, conductor II and potentiometer II tobattery II. Relay I has a further contact II connected to ground, andrelay I has a further contact II connectedtoresistor II. a

. Tongue II oi relay 1 is provided with a pair of retransmittingcontacts comprising a marking contact II connected to negative batteryII, and a spacing contact II connected to positive battery II. Tongue IIis connected to line conductor II and over that conductor it isconnected to a polar signal responsive device I.

Operation of the structureillustrated in Fig. 1 a

is as follows: The structure is shown in normal condition which isrepresented as continuous transmission of a signal of marking natureover conductor II, initiated by a marking impulse from segment B-I, theconductors II and II being instantly without potential because contactI. is open. Plate circuit II oi tube I is open at contact II oienergized. relay 1 which is held energized by its described holdingcircuit.

I, is the movement of tongue II to engage con.-

tact II, after which current in the described holding circuit eiiectsall subsequent functions.

Upon completion of the work oi engaging contact II, the tongue IIdisengages contact II from contact II, stopping all plate current intube I. The mechanical work to be done by relay I in response to controlby tube I is the movement of tongue II to engage contact "and to releasetongue II for movement into engagement with contact II. Uponcompletionoi the work, the described shunt through circuit elements 41,II, II and II stops all plate current in tube I. The

tubes I and I are rendered conductive tor only I. very short intervalot-time because in accomplishing their functions, that is, theenergization of relay 1 or I, they are rendered non-conductive. However,although the tubes are operative for only a short period, the signalcontrolled apparatus I is conditioned by elongated signal imi tion isillustrated in Fig. 2.

Upon momentary closure of the transmitting g 2 ion a spacing impulse,positive battery II will be connected through segment A-I,

brush II and a tape-controlled contact II and line conductor II to gridof tube I, rendering tube I conductive, .permitting current in platecircuit II of tube I, energizing relay I and thus interrupting theholding circuit of relay 1 at contact II, which releases its tongue IIto be operated by a ,retractile spring (not shown) into engagement withcontact ,thus shunting the winding of relay I and the plate circuitthrough tube I through the following circuit:

vground, battery II, resistor II, contact I1, arma- The invention againhas been illustrated in connection with a synchronous multiplextelegraph system and more particularly to the receiving terminus of sucha system. A receiving distributor III includes a plurality oi very shortsegments III, of which segments C--I to C-I form a portion of channel Cand segments D-I toD-I form a portion of a channel D. A dis-' tributorbrush III carried by distributor shaft I III distributes signal impulsesreceived over the multiplex transmission line III to the segments III.

At the receiving end of the multiplex system there are provided aplurality oi sprace discharge I dered conductive by a control grid III.Each ture II of relay I, armature. II of relay I, contact II, andground. Both relays land I thus are de-energized, and all current isshunted i'roln the plate circuit in tube I. terminating the conductivecondition 01' that tube.

Subsequently, upon momentary closure of the transmitting contacts I fora marking impulse, positive battery II will be connected through brushII and a tape controlled contact II and line conductor II. to grid oftube I, rendering tube I conductive, permitting current through windingof relay I, which forms its holding circuit and operates its contactsinto the conditions shown in the drawing, thus opening the plate circuitII of tube I.

By energizationgand de-en'ergization of re! I, tongue II has beenoperated between the two contacts II and II alternately, eiiecting inline conductor II and in signal responsive device I a series of signalscorresponding to signals gen;

' erated by contacts I in co-operation with brush devices III adapted tobe controlled by signals received over line III. The space dischargedevices III are gas filled trigger tubes which are normallynon-conductive but which may be renof the control grids III is directlyconnected to a segment III oi the synchronous receiving distributor andwhen a marking impulse is received irom the transmission line III, it isdirected to the grid oi the tube associated with the distributor segmentcontacted by brush III during 4 the particular signal impulse period andrenders that tube conductive. when a spacing signal is received, thetube connected to the distributor segment instantlycontacted by brushIII is not rendered conductive since a spacing signal is either ano-current interval or an impllllse oi reversed Polarity to that of amarking s al.

Also located in this receiving end of the transmission line there is aplurality of double wound magnets III, equal in number to the pluralityoi space discharge devices III. Each double 'II and tape controlledtransmitters II and a.

- The mechanical work to be done by relay 1,

I to control by plate current of tube 76 wound magnet III has a biasingwinding III continuously energized over a simple circuit in-- cludingground, winding III and grounded positive battery (only two suchcircuits have been indicated in Fig. 2). The second. or neutralising,winding III of each magnet III is included in the plate circuit of oneoi the spacedischarg deviceslll,aswillpresentlyappear There is anarmature III, in oi'ous arm of a pivoted bell crank, associated witheach magnet I to be controlled thereby. Assisted armature action isaiiorded by the engagement of a cam I00 carried directly by shaft I2I,or driven synchronously therefrom, with the other arm IIII of the bellcrank. Cam I00 is so oriented onfits shaft that it will return armaturesI00 to the poles of their respective magnets Ili just prior to the timeat which the distributor brush I20 contacts the distributor segmentsconnected to the space discharge devices which control the magnetsthrough their plate circuits. Each magnet through its biasing windingI00 retains its armature in its attracted position until its controllingwinding is energized through the reception at the gas tube IIIassociated with the particular magnet of a marking impulse which rendersthe tube conductive and energizes the neutralizing winding through acircuit 'II3 including the plate of the particular tube III, contactpair IIZ, neutralizing winding IIO, battery, and the filament of thetube. In response to the energization of the neutralizing winding Ill 9.spring connected to the armature is eii'ective to withdraw the armaturefrom its magnet.

Each armature I00 controls two contact pairs, pair II! in the abovedefined plate, circuit and pair IIO which closes a circuit I". Since atwochannel multiplex system employing a five unit code has beenillustrated, there are ten segments in distributor I00, ten spacedischarge devices III, ten magnets I05 controlled thereby and tencircuits II1 conditioned by the magnets. Five of the circuits II'I forma continuation of channel C, and the remaining five form a continuationof channel D. These channels C and D may lead to a printer, aregenerative repeater, or any signal controlled apparatus;

Cam I30 carried by synchronized shaft I2I operates cam-controlledswitches I0 I and III to generate sixth-impulse signals on conductorsI00 and I. Line In is associated with one channel, as channel C, andline I is associated with' I00 when a marking impulse is received.-However, the marking signal repeated into the circuit III controlled bythe particular tube rendered conductive upon the reception of a markingimpulse will be materially lengthened aiiording greater operating timefor the apparatus connected to circuits II'I because the armature I00 isnot restored to its magnet I00 opening circuit II 1 until cam I00engages the arm I01 which engagement will not occur until shaft I2I hascompleted nearly a full revolution.

The telegraph system employed on circuits III rent of tube III actingthrough magnet I00 is the movement of the armature I00 and contacts 2eiIected by the neutralization of the normal magnetic held of magnet I05. Upon completion of this work, contacts 2 are disengaged from eachother which stops the operating plate current.

While the invention has been described in connection with specificillustrative systems, these are capable of modification withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention, which is determinedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph relay set, a gas 'fllled tube.

having a grid under the control of received signal impulses, anelectromagnetic relay having a ratus conditioned by the signal impulsestransmitted over circuits III thereto in well known multiplex operation.

The operation oi'the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 is as follows: Thestructure is shown in condition of transmission of a series of signalsof spacing nature. Upon receipt of a marking signal impulse from lineI22 distributed through one distributor segment I04 to grid III of thetube connected thereto, the tube III becomes conductive and current.flows in its plate circuit by current through its winding I00 andreleasing the armature I00.

winding included in the plate circuit of said tube, an armature for saidrelay, normally closed contacts in said plate circuit mechanicallyactuatedby said armature in response to the energization of said relaywinding and responsively eiIective to open said plate circuit, andsignal repeating means'operated in accordance with the effectiveness ofsaid tube under the control of said armature to repeat signals receivedby said tube.

2. In a telegraph system, a gas iilled tube responsive to a receivedelectrical signal impulse. an electromagnetic winding and normallyclosed contacts included in the plate circuit of said tube, a mechanicalmember operable by said winding to engage and open said contacts In saidplate circuit in response to the energizationof said winding, and signalrepeating means operated in accordance with the eiiectiveness of saidtube under the control of said mechanical member to repeat signalsreceived by said tube.

3. In a telegraph system, a signal impulse generator, a sas filled tuberesponsive to elec- By its motion in release, the armature I00 opens theplate circuit H0 and closes the controlled circuit II-'I therebyrendering the tube III non-conductive and repeating the received signalimpulse. Subsequently, cam lobe I 00-engages lever I01 and movesarmature I00 to its -trical signal impulses emitted by said generator.

' an electromagneticwinding included in the plate circuit of said tube,a mechanical member operable in response to the electrification of; saidwinding, a holding circuit for said winding closed by said member in itsoperated-position, means operable by said member to close said holdingof time to release the armature. I00 of amagnet 7 circuit and tointerrupt-current in said plate circuit, and si nal repeating meansoperated in accordance with the eflectiveness of said tube under thecontrol oi said mechanical member to repeat signals received by saidtube.-

4. In a telegraph system, an electron dis-f charge device responsive toa received electricalsignal impulse, a plate circuit for said dischargedevice, a relay, a winding for said relay and a pair of normally closedcontacts included in said plate circuit, a signal repeater, and amechanical device operated by said relay whereby said mechanical deviceis operable to condition said repeater and to engage and open saidnormally closed contacts in response to the operation of said relay.

5. In a telegraph repeating device, a gas filled tube having a gridunder the control of received signal impulses to start ionization of thetube, a mechanical work element electromagnetically associated with saidtube for operation by said tube, means mechanically controlled by saidwork element for de-ionizing the tube simultaneously with the operationof said work element, and signal repeating means operated in accordancewith the effectiveness of said tube under the control of said mechanicalwork element to repeat signals received by said tube.

6. In a telegraph repeating device, a gas filled tube having a gridunder the control of received signal impulses to start the plate currentof the tube, a mechanical work element electromagnetically associatedwith the plate circuit of said tube, electrical contacts included in theplate circuit of said tube operated mechanically by said work element tostop the plate current of the tube, and signal repeating means operatedin accordance with the effectiveness of said tube under the control ofsaid mechanical work element to repeat signals received by said tube.

'7. In a telegraph signal receiving system, a

gas filled tube, a telegraph transmitter connectedto the grid of saidtube through a signaling conductor and effective to initiateconductivity in said tube, an output receiving element normally of saidtube, mechanical means electromagnetically associated with said outputreceiving element for mechanically opening said contacts in the platecircuit of said tube, and signal repeating means operated in accordancewith the efiectiveness of said tube under the control of said mechanicalmeans to retransmit regenerated electrical signals.

8. In a telegraphically controlled signal receiving device, aspring-urged circuit controlling member, electromagnetic means normallyretaining said member in its unoperated position, means to operate saidelectromagnetic means to release said member for operation, atelegraphically controlled electron discharge device having a platecircuit including said electromagnetic means to operate saidelectromagnetic means in response to received signals, means controlledby said spring-urged member in its operated condition for interruptingcurrent in said plate circuit, and signal repeating means operated inaccordance with the eiiectiveness of said electron discharge deviceunder the control of said spring urged member to transmit regeneratedelectrical signals.

9. In a telegraphically controlled signal receiving device, a gas filledtube, a magnet having a plurality of windings, a spring-urged armaturei'or said magnet, a polarized circuit through one winding of said magnetwith sufficient current to hold said armature against the urge of saidspring in close-to-core position, a plate circuit for said tube throughanother winding of said magnet, means to polarize said tube by areceived signal to permit current in said plate circuit to oppose saidpolarizing current in said magnet and to release said armature, andmeans controlled by said armature to generate a repeating telegraphicsignal and to open said plate circuit.

10. In a telegraph system, a pair of gas filled tubes, a first relay awinding of which is connected in the plate circuit of a first tube whenthe relay is unenergized, a second relay a winding of which is connectedin the plate circuit of the second tube when the relay is unenergized,

means to render the plate circuit of either tube closed contactsconnected in series with the plate conducting according to receivedsignals and to energize the associated relay winding, means effectivewhen the first relay is energized to open the plate circuit of theassociated tube and close a locking circuit for the first relay throughthe contacts of the second relay, and means effective after the windingof the second relay is energized to interrupt the plate current of thesecond tube and to interrupt the holding circuit of the first relay.

11. In a telegraph system, a signal impulse generator, a signalrepeating means, a space discharge device responsive to signal impulsesemitted by said generator, a plate circuit for said space dischargedevice including an electromagnetic device, a plurality of mechanicalmembers operated by said electromagnetic device, one of said membersbeing operable to open said plate circuit and another of said membersbeing operable to control said signal repeating means to repeat thesignal impulse to which said space discharge device responds.

12. In a telegraph system, a signal generator, a pair of gas filledtubes one of which is rendered conductive by generated signals ofmarking nature and the other of which is rendered conductive bygenerated signals of spacing nature, an electromagnetic relay energizedby one of said tubes and deenergized by the other, repeating mechanismcontrolled by said relay to repeat signals received by said tubes, and amechanical member positioned by said relay simultaneously with theconditioning of said repeating mechanism to render said tubesinoperative.

13. A transmitting distributor comprising a plurality of signaltransmitting segments, a closed conductive ring, a set of rotatingbrushes bridging said ring and said plurality of segments successively,a set of timing contacts, a transmission circuit including said set ofcontacts, said conductive ring, said plurality of segments and said setof brushes, means to operate said set of contacts to time transmissionof initiatory impulses from said .distributor segments, trigger tubes insaid transmission circuit responsive to said initiatory impulses, anelectromagnetic means controlled by said tubes,'and signal repeatingmeans operated in accordance with the effectiveness of said tubes underthe control of said electromagnetic means to transmit regeneratedelectrical impulses.

14. In a telegraph system, a signal transmitter, a plurality of signaltransmitting contacts in said transmitter operable in succession togenerate impulses of a signal combination, a single set of timingcontacts operated in synchronism with said transmitting contacts todetermine the time of signal transmission therefrom, a pair of gasfilled tubes, an electromagnetic relay individual to each tube andincluded in the plate circuit of their respective tubes, means to renderthe plate circuit of either tube conducting according to receivedsignals and to energize the associated relay, means efiective when onerelav is energized to open the plate circuit of the associated tube andclose a locking circuit for said relay through the contacts of the otherrelay, and means effective after the winding of said other relay isenergized to interrupt the plate circuit of the second tube and tointerruptthe holding circuit of said one relay.

15. In a telegraph system, a signal generator, a pair of electrondischarge devices each including a control electrode, each controlelectrode being individually connected to said generator whereby one ofsaid discharge devices is rendered conductive by generated signals ofmarking nature and the other discharge device is rendered conductive bygenerated signals of spacing nature, a. signal regenerator conditionedin response to the conductivity of said discharge devices to repeatsignals received thereby, and means operable upon the conditioning ofsaid signal regenerator to disable the discharge device that conditionedthe signal regenerator.

16. In a telegraph system, a signal generator, 9. pair oi! electrondischarge devices including control grids, the control grids of saiddischarge devices being individually connected to said signal generatorwhereby one of said devices is rendered conductive by generated signalsof marking nature and the other is rendered conductive by generatedsignals of spacing nature, a signal repeater controlled by theconductivity of one of said discharge devices to repeat a marking signaland controlled by the conductivityof the other discharge device torepeat a spacing signal, and a single means to interrupt theconductivity of that discharge device that controlled the repeater.

17. In a telegraph system, a signal generator,

a pair of electron discharge devices including control grids, thecontrol grids of said discharge and to render the other discharge deviceconductive by generated signals of spacing nature, a signal responsivemechanism to be conditioned alternately by said discharge devices inresponse to received signals, and circuit means associated with saiddischarge devices operable upon the conditioning of said signalresponsive mechanism to disable the discharge device that conditionedthe signal responsive mechanism.

18. In a telegraph system, a signal generator,

a pair of electron discharge devices each including a control grid, thecontrol grid of each of said devices being individually connected tosaid signal generator to render one of said devices conductive inresponse to the generated signals of marking nature and to render theother discharge device conductive in response to generated signals ofspacing nature, plate circuit for said discharge devices, a signalrepeater to be conditioned selectively in response to current in saidplate circuits, and means included in said repeater operable upon theconditioning of said repeater to interrupt the plate circuit-of thatdischargedevice that conditioned the signal repeater.

19. In a telegraph system, a signal impulse generator, a pair ofelectron discharge devices responsive to electrical signal impulsestransmitted from said generator, a plate circuit individual to' eachdevice, a signal repeater including in said plate circuits to repeatsignal in response to the operation of said discharge devices, means tocause said repeater to generate a lengthened signal impulse in responseto a shorter 'signal generated by said generator, and mechanism includedin said repeater operable upon the conditioning of said repeater inresponse to certain received signals to disable said plate circuit ofthat discharge device that conditioned the signal repeater.

LOUIS M. PO'I'IS.

